Web-printing press



F. BECHMAN WEB PRINTING PRESS o nvm/Hoz Jan. 12 1926." 1,569,065

H. F.YBECHMAN WEB PRINTING PRESS Filed Jan. 17, 192s sheets-sheet 2 Jan. l2 1926. 1,569,065

H. F. BECHMAN wg PRINTING PREss Filed Jan. 17 1925 Sheets-Sheet 5 18 2S Eh. 4

. Mlm mummia,

, this specification.

Patented J an.y 1 2, 1 926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. BECHMAN, QF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DUPLEX PRINT- ING PRESS COMPANY, 0F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHL.

GAN.

.WEB-PRNTING Panss.

Application led January To all whom z't may concern." a

Be it known that I, HENRY F. BECKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented cei tain new and useful Improvements in Web-Printing Presses; and .I hereby declare that the following is' a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of This invention is an improvement in rotary web presses particularly designed for use in newspaper publishing oflices. One of' its objects is to provide va .novel print-ing press having printing units, foldingunits, and feed roll units capable of beingarranged in any desired relation; and which press can be enlarged at any time by the addition of lone or more similar printing units, or folding units, Vor feed roll units; and vin which the folder can be arranged at the end of the series of printing units or intermediate any .of the printing units, as may be desired.` The novel `press is of great simplicity, is capable of any desired variety of relative arrangement of the units, and of being added to,or enlarged at will in accordance withl the growth of the paper. The aforesaid object is attained by Amaking the various units of a given base size, sothat each is interchangeable in position (with any other; and additional units may be added to the machine when it is desired to enlarge it; or units may be removed from the machine if desired without necessitating by such changes any expensive alterations or additions, the various units being relatively 'so formed that they are lcapableof being interconnected in any desired relation to make a press of any desired total page capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for inde endently d riving the plate cylinders and t e inking mechanisms of eachprinting unit.

Another object is to provide` novel means whereby the various units maybe driven in synchronism, whatever may be the relative arrangement of the different units.

I /will explain the inventionl with reference to Ythe accompanying drawings, in lwhieh I have illustrated one Apractical form of pressfembodyin the various features of the invention, an having interchangeable 17, 1925. serial Np. 3,163.

printing, feeding and folding units; and I have set forth in the claims the essentials of the invention and the novel features of construction and the novel combinations of parts for all of which protection isV desired.

In said drawings: v

Figure l is a side elevation of a complete press embodyin three printing units, a feed roll unit and a older unit.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing another arrangement of the same units.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of one of the printing units from the drive side.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of a printing unit.

Fig. 5 is a top planview of a printing unit.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a printing unit.

In the said press each rinting unit P is constructed alike, and a escription of one will explain all. As shown, each. printingA unit P consists of two plate cylinders 1 and 1a between which are interposed two impression cylinders 2, 2a respectively coacting with the plate cylinders. Thesecylinders have their shafts journaled` in bearings in framing 3 of any suitable construction, which is mounted upon a base 3 which base may be mounted upon any suitable substructure, or foundation, not shown, to secure the unit in the desired position.` Beneath each plate c linder l and l is an inking mechanism w ich may be of any suitable construction, but in the example shown preferably comprises a fountain 4, ductor roll 4, drum 4", distributors 4, a second drum 4d, and form rolls 4"', by which theink is ltransferred from' the second drum 4d to the plate lcylinder.

is journalled in bearings 6a on the Vadjacent side frame 3. Shaft -carriesa beveled gear 6 which meshes with a beveled on the `shaft lof one of the impression cylinders 2, and to the same cylinder, adjacent pinion 2c ilo gear 2, is keyed a pinion 2, which meshes with the pinion 2f on the adjacent cylinder 2a, and at the opposite end of the machine, pinion 2g of the shaft of the cylinder 2 meshes with the pinion 1g on the 'shaft of the cylinder 1; and a pinion 2h on the shaft of cylinderA 2a meshes with a pinion l on the shaft of cylinder la. By this means the cylinders are driven at uniform peripheral speeds and directly from the shaft 5. Each of the inking mechanisms below the cylinders l, l@l are driven from the shaft 5 by the following means. The drives being duplicate, a description of one will explain both.

On the shaft 5 is a beveled pinion meshing with a beveled gear 7n on a vertically disposed shaft 7 journalled in bearings a on the frame 3 and on the shaft 7 is a beveled pinion 7- meshing with a beveled pinion 4 on the shaft of the drum 4b. And on the upper end of shaft 7 is another gear 71 meshing with a gear 4p on the shaft of the roll 4, A bearing 7" may be provided for the shaft 7 below the gear 7p, as indicated in Figures 3 and 6. In this manner the drum 4b and roll 4d are positively driven directly from the shaft 5 and independently of the cylinder drives. The gearing is so proportioned that the linking mechanisms are driven in proper unison with the plate cylinders. If desired the several rolls of the printing mechanism may be inter-geared in the usual manner with the drum 4b and roll 4d, but this inter-gearing is not a feature of the present invention, and therefore is not illustrated herein. The frame 3 of the unit has extensions 3b extending above the printing cylinders which are provided with bearings for guide rollers indicated at 8, 8b and 8. The top member 3" of the frame is as long as the base 3, and if two such units are placed side by side as indicated in Fivure 1, so that the bases 3a abut, the top metfnber 3b will also abut, and when so placed the bases and the top members are securely power'may be applied directly bolted together at their abutting edges or sides to form a rigid and continuous frame.

The shafts 5 are of such length that when the units are attached together in this manner, the ends of the shafts5 of adjacent units Will be close together, and they may then be united by means of suitable couplings 5t of the usual type, so that the shafts 5 Will operate as one.

'Obviously as the printing units are alike in construction and size any numberof such units may be placed side by side and united as described, and when so united they 'will operate as one.

To drive the press or any unit thereof to the shafts 5 or to any one of such shafts. Preferably when it is desired to have the units capable of being operated lndividually or in any desired groups, a drive shaft 9 is employed extendlng the length of the press beside the several units thereof'. This shaft 9 may be composed of drive shaft sections, each mounted in bearings, 9a on a section 3 ythe shaft sections 9 form a continuous drive shaft and motion is transmitted from each shaft section 9 to the related shaft section 5 by means of a pinion 9s on said shaft section 9 and engaging gear 5s on the adjacent shaft section 5. While I prefer to employ the main drive shaft 9, in some cases the shafts 5 might be directly driven by 'the motor or` motors.

It is to be understood that in some cases the shaft 9 may be omitted and the press or its various units may be Idriven entirely from the shaft 5, which may be made in sections coupled together as described. In most cases yit may be preferred to use the shaft 9 and dispense with shaft sections When the shaft 9 is so used it should extend thel entire length of the machine, and be geared to the several units like the shaft 5.

Or the shaft 9 may be used with the shaft 5 and in such case the shaft sections 5 need not beconnected together, but each shaft section 5 will be operated from shaft 9 as described and drive its related unit.l In

' with both the shafts 5 and 9 as above described; andeither or both shafts used as desired. y

The feed roll section or unit of the press comprises a base 10a pro-vided with roll supports 10 of any suitable type adapted to carry as many web rolls lV as may be dcsired. The base 10" is the same size as the base 3a, and therefore can be abut-ted against the side of the base 3, or if desired can be placed between the bases 3 of two printing units. The top members 10b of the feed roll unit frame may correspond in length and size withthe top members 3b, of the printing unit frame; and members 10b can be connected to members 3b, like members 3" are connected to each other. The base'lG s also provided with means for fastening it Leganes to the base '3a ofa printing unit similar to the fastenings of adjacent bases 3. The base '10 is also provided with web guides (as 10, 10d, 10e) for the webs and additional web guides may be provided if more than three printing units are employed in the press, if all the printing units are to be fed from the one feed roll unit.

The folder unit has a base 1 1a which corresponds in size with the base 3, and on the base 11n is mounted a folding mecha-4 nism having a former 11, and folding rolls 11d and other parts -such as commonly used in standard former folders for newspaper presses. In the folder frame andv above the former are journaled web guide rollers 11E and 1,1f, over which the webs coming from the press units are directed to the former.

' On one end of the folder base 11u is a drive shaftA 12 journaled in bearings 12a and corresponding in positionwith the shaft 5 of a printing unit. Shaft 12 carries a bevel pinion 12c meshing with bevel pinion 13 on the shaft 13 which is suitably geared to a shaft 14 carrying a bevel gear 14 engaging a bevel gear 15 on the folder driving shaft so that the folder will be driven by the shaft 12. The shaft 12 is driven directly from and in unison with the adjacent shaft v5. to which the folder shaft12 is connected by couplings 121.

The coupling 12" could be dispensed with when the shaft 9 is employed. In that case the coupling could be used onthe shaft 9 and theshaft 12 would be simply a unit driveshaft similar to -the shaft 5 of the printing units.

The folder base 11a is of the same ISiae as the base 3a of a printing unit and canl be bolted to the adjacent printing unit base 3a just as one base 3 can be bolted to another, as above described.

The frame 11c of the folder unit is pro vided with top members 11b which correspond to the top members 3b of a printing unit, so that when the folder unit is placed adjacent the printing unit, or between the printing units, the top members 11b of the folder unit can be bolted-to the top members 3' of the printing unit or units, just as the top members 3b ofadjacent printing units can be bolted together. j

The folder unit is thus interchangeable in position with the printing units. When the folder unit is attached to a printing unit the shaft 12 is coupled to the adjacent shaft or shafts 5 of the printing units so that the shaft 12 will be driven from the shaft 5'.

sov

lf desired the shaft 12 could be geared to shaft 9 instead of shaft 5 or when the shaft V9 is used alone the shaft 12 can be geared to shaft 9 by gears similar'to gears 5S and 9S. In Figure 1, the folder unit is shown arranged at one end of a series of three printing units, at the other end of which series is the feed roll unit. In Fig. 2 the folder unit is shown as arranged intermediate two of the printing units.

Each of the printing units may be provided with suitable web guides to direct the webs which pass through the press. If there are three units there would be three sets of guides within each printing unit. As shown, each printing unit is provided with web guides 8d, 8e, and 8f below the cylinders,

and with web guides 8, 8b, 8c, above thecylinders. The webs w are led from the rollsW on the feed roll unit under suitable guides 10, 10d, 10e to thel web guides 8d, 8e and 8f of the ypress units and then between the plate and impression cylinders, and up over web guides as 8c, 8a, or 8", to the guide roller 11 or 11e of the folder unit.

Any one familiar with rotary web presses will readily understand how the webs'may be led in various ways through the press according to the number of pages' which it is desired to print and the number of webs it is desired to assemble at the folder. And the units can be readily pro-- ,feed roll units are all preferably constructed with bases and top members which are similar in size and which are adapted to be fastened together as above explained; also that any desired number of such units may be placed side by side and fastened together; also that the folder unit can be placed at the end of the series of printing units, or the folder unit can be placed' between printing units; also that the feed roll unit can be placed either at the end of the row of units or in an intermediate position as may be desired; also that if it is desired to increase the size of the press all that is necessary is to attach one or more like printing units (as many as may be desired) to the series; and another folder unit or folder units, as may be desired and additional feed roll units, if desired. The various units can be arranged in any order desired, and yin `whatever order they may be arranged .the respective bases 3, 11a, 10u and top members 3, 10b, 111 will all lit to each other, and the various shaft sections 5 and 12 will be alined and can be connected and driven asabove described.

As will be obvious to those familiar with the art; the great practical advantage of this press isl that it may be augmented Ain size 1n accordance with the growth of the paper. If each printing unit is adapted llO io print say sixteen pages, if that is sulicient for his` present news, a publisher would only have to buyone printing unit, one folder unit, and one feedroll unit. As the paper increases in size 0r `circulation he can buy another' printing unit and bolt. it to one end of the press already installed; or he can separate the u'nits of such press and place the new printing unit between the folder and the first printing unit, or between the latter and the feed roll unit; and as the paper increases in size and circulation, the owner is not put to the expenseof buying another press, but can simply add to the original press whatever additional units he re uires to enable him to print newspapers o the desired size, or the desired quantity of newspapers.

By independently driving the printing mechanism and the inking" mechanisms las Y described the printing cylinders are relieved of the labor of operating the inking mechanism and vice versa.

I do not herein claim the means for driving the printing cylinders and inking mechanism independently.

I claim:

1. In a printing press, a plurality of similar printing units and a folder unit; each of said units having a similar base frame wherebyvthe said units are interchangeable in position and may be arranged in any desired relation.

2. In a printing press, a lurality of similar printing units and a `older unit; each of said units having a similar base frame and a similar top member whereby the said units are interchangeable in position and may be arranged in any desired relation.

,3. A printing press comprising a printing j unit; a feed roll unit; and a folder unit; cach unit having a base frame of like proportionsto the base frame of the other units,

' whereby the said units are interchangeable in position and may be arranged in any desired relation.

4. A printing press comprising a printing unit; a feed roll unit, each unit having a base frame similar to the base frame of the other units, whereby the said units are intei-change. ble in position and may be arranged in any desired relation; each printingunit having a shaft section and gearing between said section and the printing and inking mechanisms ofeach unit; the shaft sect-ions of adjacent units being connectable when the units are connected.

In a press as set. forth in claim 2. each printing unit also having a drive shaft section beside the first mentioned shaft section; and gearing between said shaft sections; the drive shaft sections of adjacent units being also connectablewhen the units` are assembled ina press.

6. printing press comprising afprinting sired relation;

unit; a feed roll unit, and a folder unit, each unit having a basefraine of like proportions to the base fra me of the other units, whereby the said units are interchangeable in position and maybe arranged in any desired relation; each printing unit having a shaft section, and gearing between said section and the printing and inking mechanisms of each unit; the shaft sections of adjacent units being connectable when the units are connected.

7 In a press as set forth in claim 6, each printing unit also having a drive shaft section beside the first mentioned shaft section; and earing between the said shaft sections; the rive shaft section of adjacent units being also connectable when the units are assembled in a pressl 8. In a printing press a plurality of similar printin; r units and a folder unit; each of said units having a similar base frame and a similar top member, whereby the said units are interchangeable in position and may be arranged in any desired relation, each printing unit having a drive shaft section, and gearing between said shaft andthe inking mechanisms of such unit; and gear- 9. In a press as set forth in claim 8, each l printing unit also having a drive shaft section mounted thereon beside the first mentioned shaft section; and gearing between the shaft" sections of the sameunit the drive shaft sections of adjacent units being connectable when the units are assembled in a press.

10. In a printing press,-a plurality of similar printing units; a feed roll unit, and a folder unit, each of the said units having a base frame and a to member of similar proportions, whereby t e said units are interchangeable'in position and may be arranged in any desired relation.

11. In a printing press as set forth in claim 10, each printing unit having a drive shaft section, and gearing between said section and the printing and inking mechanisms of such unit; the shaft sections of adjacent units being connectable when the units are connected.

12. A printing press comprising a printing unit; a feed roll unit, and a folder unit, each unit having a base frame of like proportions to the base frame of the other units, whereby the said units are interchangable in position and may be arranged in any deeach printing and folding unit having a shaft section, the said shaft sections of adjacent units being connectable when the units areconnected; gearing between the said shaft section of each printing unit and the cylinders and inking lmechanisms vof such` unit; and earing between sections of the same unit; said driveshaft th'e shaft section of the folder unit and the sections of adjacent units being connectable folding devices. when the units are connected. l 10 13. In a press as set forth inclaim 12, each In testimony that I claim the foregoing. 5 printing press unit having a drive shaft as niy own I .affix my signature.

section mounted thereon beside the irst men-v tioned shaft and gearing between the shaft HENRY F. BECHMAN. 

